sailing (withthe rags up) into a marina

An examiner reminded me once of his gripes about the 'over reliance on an engine.'
This and the cost of diesel is pushing me into arriving/departing under sail more and more.
Doesn't matter if it's marina, buoy or anchorage.
Just can it be done safely.
 
Only once sailing into portsmouth and through necessity. The bosun was convinced their was enough fuel for the day sail but sadly the tank, unbeknownst to the crew, was nearly bare on departure and thus ran out on the way back in. In his defense there was a mark on the opaque plastic tank which looked like a fuel level mark.

Alas the whole procedure went quite smooth once we were properly lined-up with the berth, very impressed with the skipper's skills.
 
I have been forced to do it many times - mainly with boats (not mine) that have had engine failure.

When I have wanted to practice I have always asked the marina first - they have never said no to me yet (except on my Instructor Assessment when there was a dredger blocking the entrance.) I must admit I have often asked when on a school boat with students on board, so the marina may have been a little more amenable to the request.

I once spent nearly an entire Cowes week with no propellor sailing in and out of the Medina and onto the pontoon just N of the Chain Ferry. Cowes harbour Commissioners used to keep an eye out for us with their dory and give me a nudge onto the town pontoon if necessary. (Its difficult to get into a slot in between boats rafted five out in a long keeled traditional sail boat and we were always put on the inside as we were one of the later starting classes.) It sometimes involved a lot of SHOUTING at yachts to explain that if they stopped suddenly in front of me in the river, I couldn't stop. We weighed five tonnes on 26 foot of waterline length so it took a lot of mainsail backing to slow us down. There were a lot of blank looks from other boats with engines until they realised I meant it and they re-engaged their engine and moved smartly out of the way.
 
Norfolk Broads, Ranworth. Stern to mooring on the staithe. Light airs, 32'0" gaff rigger, wind direction directly onto the staithe, one slot left between other boats.

My mate on the helm, spun round 180 degrees opposite the mooring, scandalised the main, dropped the mud weight off the bows and drifted back in to the mooring. Perfect.

WHY WASN'T THERE ANYONE WATCHING? :mad:
 
Did it once at Zeebrugge when the engine failed. Tacking up the channel into the marina. Called to the harbour master that we had no engine. Lots of people running around rigging fennders, the sweet as you like we came alonside without an fuss. Very satisfying if slightly nerve wracking at the time :eek:

Regards

Ian
 
Had to do it a couple of times, engine failure. Found it extremely stressful with just two of us on board!
Both times we radioed ahead to explain our difficulties and to ask if the reception pontoon was clear. Once in Vilamoura and once in Huelva. Both times told all clear come on in only to find another boat in the way, certainly lead to a 'brown trouser' moment.

We did mange it on both occasions but certainly not something I would choose to do!We have a 40 foot, 17 ton cutter so the momentum coming in is pretty high. We made the final approach each time using the staysail, even so it all felt rather too quick for comfort!

On reflection we should have just anchored in the entrance to Huelva and lowered the dinghy to manoeuvre but it was late at night with a rising wind and we were both pretty knackered!And we had never been in there before.

www.gerryantics.blogspot.com
 
Have done several marinas in the Solent area in a Duet. It was the only way on the Young Skippers course all those years ago. No idea if it is the same now. Found it pretty straight forward at the time. Must be something about youth not seeing the problems, only the excitement.

When in Denmark 15 years ago it was quite common to see boats coming and going under sail in the marina - and not just the hammer head, but really deep in. Mind you, can remember one boat got it wrong, and it went horribly wrong.
 
Bucket and Danforth

I have sailed into many places, many times and prefer to sail up to moorings and anchorages.

I rig a steel bucket on a 15' line as a drogue to take off way when going slow (in Marinas or Harbours) as I need a bit of velocity to steer. If the harbour or marina is tight I used to have a Danforth kedge anchor hooked on the stern, rope rode only, ready to go. Must get another one.

If the wind is light and / or your boat too, try sailing backwards by just pushing the boom out. Its not that hard, just look over the stern, but be aware where your bow is.

As others have said its all about planning and it helps with confidence if one has dinghy sailed a lot.

My tub is predisposed to her bows blowing off, makes it interesting.
 
With my 10 sq m mast I sometimes find I'm sailing without intending it. I generally rig the mast across the boat before going into close quarters otherwise it can push me sideways rather smartly. It can be very useful to use the side thrust deliberately to get into a berth.

Our Dracombe yawl has no motor so we have to berth under sail. It has a useful trick in that the rudder can rotate 360° so when approaching a bit too quickly one can whip the helm over 90° and hey presto - brakes. That's saved me a few times.
 
I almost always sail the Jouster (no reasonable offer refused) into her berth at Kirkcudbright Marina. Mind you, it's a pontoon on the river and I normally aim to come in on the 3kt ebb, so it's just a matter of coming level with my berth, adjusting speed and sailing sideways into it. On a good day I can hold her six inches from the pontoon while the crew steps lightly ashore. On a good day.
 
I sail onto moorings given half a chance. I'll anchor under sail if I know the place well, but often I don't quite know where I want to go until I've had a sound about with the depth gauge, so engine is more convenient. I may very well then sail off though.

I enjoy sailing up the river to where my berth is, but the actual slot is deceptively tricky to get into without ramming the boat ahead, as there can be quite a current through it. So I've always motored that very last bit. If I needed to arrive sans engine I think I could quite confidently get onto the loading berth on the outside of the pontoon in most winds, and sort things out from there.

Pete
 
Yep, regularly sail in and out of Marina/harbour for fun and to save a few bob on fuel.
At first I used to have the engine running just in case though!
 
Oh I did that all Summer long in Vounaki - training people on the 3 day flot course If they were any good after the first 2 days.

We did sail the 40ft yacht which had a gearbox fail into the busy marina on a Sunday in a force 4. Was actually perfectly executed in the end, although the new Dutch skipper decided to move his yacht while we were coming in - ignoring the marina. I dont think he lasted very long although maybe he did!

We had to do it on our yacht master Course.

Try backing the main getting enough speed up to have steerage and then dropping ones Anchor to go stern-to. :-)
 
Seajet said:
For anyone experienced with sailing dinghies, it's much easier than it looks; 'scandalising' or depowereing the main is a trick worth being familiar with for both offshore sailing and close quarters manouvering; either haul the boom up by the topping lift with the kicker/ vang loose to spill wind from the main, or let the mainsheet right out then grab the whole purchase with a handful to 'sheet in', also very handy for 'reach - tack - reach' Man Overboard.

Sailing into a berth is sometimes easier and more instinctive than motoring in !
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Yes, re: the second post on here I think where the halyard jammed - my thought was that I would have scandalised the main.

He said sitting in his arm chair.

Actually, I wouldn't have attempted to go in at all - no guts or skill you see.

I still marvel at the skill when I remember seeing those kids sail into their berth.
 
tim_ber said:
I still marvel at the skill when I remember seeing those kids sail into their berth.
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I just remember that we didn't think anything at all of sailing a Wayfarer up to the concrete slips at Emsworth Sailing Club - in a dinghy it would never cross your mind to do anything else. Well, my yacht is only eight feet longer than a Wayfarer, so surely I ought to be able to sail it up to some things, when it's easy?

Pete
 
I parked under sail ay Bangor, not through choice - engine had failed - I called the marina to scrounge a tow but they sid it was too rough and windy for their dinghy.

I went in under 2/3 of the genoa missed the first time and went around again.

Had a second attempt and parked alongside a large yacht. If we'd missed that we would have been on the rocks.

This was in the Parker 31 which was very manouverable, I wouldn't like to try it in the CW.
 
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